Yichang and Metz, France
2022-12-05 20:12:00
The first sister city relationship that Yichang struck up outside China was with the French city of Metz in January 1991.
Located at the confluence of the Moselle and Seille rivers in northeast France, Metz is the provincial capital of Moselle and the Grand Est region, with an area of 42 square kilometers and a population of 280,000.
Close to Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium, it is a key transport hub.
Metz is a city with a long history. It boasts France’s oldest church, its oldest opera house and Metz University. It also has a strong automotive and IT industry.
After establishing their sister city relationship, Jean-Marie Rausch, the mayor of Metz, visited Yichang twice. Guo Yuanzhang, the then mayor of Yichang, made a trip to Metz in 1995.
Exchanges between Yichang and the French city have continued in the years since then.
